Ball door with positive closing mechanism



J. ZUERCHER June 22, 1965 BALL DOOR WITH POSITIVE CLOSING MECHANISM 3 Sheecs-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1962 FIG.

INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER BY ATTORNEY June 22,1965 J. ZUERCHER 3,190,650

BALL DOOR WITH POSITIVE CLOSING MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER BY ATTORN EY June 22, 1965 J. ZUERCHER 3,190,650

BALL DQOR WITH POSITIVE CLOSING MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4 72* E i f 11 i 29 90 74--- 94 as 46 INVENTOR 4 JOHN ZUERCHER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,199,650 BALL DOQR WEITH PGSKTIVE (DEB-SENS MECHANISM John Znercher, Mansfield, @hio, assignor to American Machine dz Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,560 16 Qiairns. (Ql. 2731-49) This invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines, and more particularly to improvements in bowling ball and pin handling mechanism which is operative to effectively separate balls from pins and insure the unobstructed movement of balls out of the pit of the bowling alley and into the range of operation of a bowling ball conveying system which returns the ball to the head or playing end of a bowling alley.

In the game of bowling, it is most desirable to remove a ball from the pit of a bowling alley as rapidly as possible in order that it can be returned quickly by a ball return to the playing end of the alley. The rapid removal of the ball thus decreases the amount of elapsed time between successive deliveries of a ball by a player, and thereby increases the enjoyment of the games by the participant, or those playing the game.

The invention is characterized by the provision of a my invention disclosed in co-pending application, Ser. No. 831,846, filed August 5, 1959, now Patent 3,086,776, granted April 23, 1963.

The invention is characterized by the provision of a ball door system mounted in an opening in the kickback of a single alley or in openings in the kickbacks of two adjacent side-by-side bowling alleys. As illustrated herein, the mechanism embodying the invention is shown associated with two side-by-side alleys. This system is provided with a common toggle connection, similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application above referred to, which prevents the simultaneous exiting of balls from adjacent pits. In the construction illustrated herein, each ball door is provided with a ball actuated latch mechanism for unlocking the door so as to permit the exit of a ball therethrough. The object of the invention is to solve two main problems; namely, (1) blocking of the door by one or more pins wherein the ball is unable to actuate the latch mechanism and (2) the tendency of a pin to move with or precede a ball through the door once it is open.

In order to effect the desired purposes of the invention, closely spaced behind the door when the door is in a closed position is a member which is oscillated through a suitable driving connection. In accordance with the invention, when the proper movement of a ball through an opening in a kickback is prevented by a pin, the door is moved positively backwardly towards its closed posi tion and thereby pushes the blocking pin back through or away from the opening. It will be seen, therefore, that this mechanism in operation effectively removes a pin or pins which might cause a ball obstruction or jam away from the kickback or the door opening in the kickback back onto the conveying mechanism which delivers the pin rearwardly in the pit to a pin elevator. The ball is then free to move into contact with the door opening means, open the door, and roll therethrough into the range of operation of the ball elevating mechanism. In the absence of a blocking pin, the ball can operate a mechanism which opens normally.

If the door should open and a pin precedes it, the ball cannot operate the latch of the unlocking mechanism to its full unlatching position and remove it from the path of the oscillating member. Therefore, this member will engage the latch now located in its path and cause inward repeated closing movement of the door to expel the pin 3,l%,h5@ Patented June 22, 195

or push it back onto the conveyor which carries it rearwardly in the pit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel pin and ball handling system for the pit of a bowling alley wherein means are provided to effectively displace a pin or pins away from a ball opening in a kickback of a bowling alley so that such pin or pins can be carried rearwardly in the pit to a pin elevating system, while the ball is free to move through the ball opening into the range of operation of a ball elevator system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel ball and pin handling device wherein a latch mechanism is selectively operated so as to actuate mechanism which acts to push a pin or pins away from the ball door and allow a ball to move therethrough.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of a novel ball and pin handling mechanism for use in the pit of a bowling alley wherein there is provided a ball opening, normally closed by a ball door which contains mechanism operative to prevent balls and pins from becoming jammed because a pin or pins may be in front of a ball as it moves through the opening, and means for moving the door so as to push such pin or pins backwar-dly into the pit so that the ball can move freely and unobstructedly through the opening into the range of operation of a bowling ball lifting system.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ball actuated latch mechanism for use with the doors mounted in openings of the kickbacks in bowling alleys and to associate therewith means for oscillating the doors repeatedly so as to push any pins moving into or in the openings back into the pits in order that balls may roll unobstructedly through the openings out of the pits.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view, partially in section, of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURES 4 and S are views of details of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the door mechanism is shown as it would be mounted between two side-by-side alleys and arranged to deliver balls from the pits P-1 and 1 2 of these two alleys to a ball elevating apparatus serving both alleys for delivery to a common bowling ball return runway. The ball lifting and return apparatus R disclosed in the drawings is of the same general type as that disclosed in Zuercher et al. Patent 2,765,172, for Bowling Ball Handling and Return Mechanism. If desired, other types of ball return mechanisms can be used. As mentioned above, the ball door construction is generall'y the same as that disclosed in my Patent 3,086,776.

Referring specifically to the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the doors or gates, designated generally 10, is mounted in an opening 12 formed in adjacent kickbacks or side plates 14 of pits P-1 and P2 of the two side-by-side bowling alleys. Since the doors 10 and all of their associated actuating mechanism are identical in construction and operation, except that one is lefthanded while the other is righthanded, only one is shown and described in detail.

Doors 10 preferably are concave, but if desired, they may be flat without affecting the operation described herein below. Each door is formed with a two arm bracket 16, which is pivotally mounted on vertical shaft 18 supported at its upper and lower extremities in bearing blocks 20, attached to side plates or kickbacks 14, as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 3. 4

Each bracket 16 is provided with an arcuate extension 24 adjacent the upper portion thereof. Pivotally mounted in the free end of extension 24 is a vertical pivot pin 26 to the upper end of which is connected an adjustable link 28. As shown in FIGURE 2, the free ends of each link 28 associated with each door 10 are pivotally mounted in common together with one end of another link 30 on pin 32, thus forming a horizontal toggle joint. The other end of link 30 is secured to the upper end of shaft 34 pivotally mounted in bracket 36 adjacent the midpoint thereof. Bracket 36 extends transversely in space S between plates or kickbacks 14, and is secured at each end to brackets 38 suitably attached to the inner face of each side plate 14.

In order to urge doors 10 into closed position in openings 12 in kickbacks 14, each pin 26 associated with a door 10 is provided with a pivoted horizontal plate to which the ends of a tension spring 44 are secured (see FIGURES 2 and 3). Spring 44 is operative to urge doors 11) into closed position in openings 12 in side plates or kickbacks 14.

In order to maintain doors 10 in closed position in openings 12, each door 10 is provided with a latching mechanism. This latching mechanism includes a bumper 46 mounted in an elongated arcuate slot 48 formed in door 10 (FIGURE 1) with a portion thereof projecting through slot 48 into position to be engaged by a ball as it rolls against the door preparatory to unlatching the door so that the ball may open the door and roll through opening 12 out of the pit.

Bumper 46 is mounted in the lower end of arm 50, which is swingably mounted at its upper end on shaft 52, carried between a pair of downwardly depending arms 54, which preferably are formed as integral parts of hub 56 rotatably supported on horizontal shaft 58. Shaft 58 is journalled at one end in a suitable bearing in the upper portion of its associated door 10. The other end of shaft 58 is supported in a suitable bearing formed in arm 60, preferably constituting an integral part or extension of bracket 16, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Bumper 46 preferably is formed of a material having a high coeflicient of friction, such as rubber or other suitable material.

Hub 56 is provided at its upper end with a latch 66, preferably formed integral therewith. This latch, when its door 10 has closed opening 12, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, is positioned in front of a three step stop or fixed pawl 68 attached to and extending outwardly from the outer face of side plate or kickback 14 into space S. Latch 66 normally is maintained vertical due to the Weight of bumper 46. It will be seen by a reference to FIGURE 2 that in its normal position latch 66 is spaced a short distance from step 69 of pawl or stop 68. Thus, if a ball and/ or pin or pins should glace or strike against door 10 without moving bumper 46 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1, door 10 can move inwardly into space S a short distance before latch 66 engages step 69, and arrests its movement. Spring 44 then returns door 10 to closed position. v

In the normal operation of the latch mechanism thus far discussed, a ball is delivered into a pit, P-1 or P-2, and onto conveyor C1 or conveyor C2 moving continu ously therein towards the rear thereof. Balls thus delivered are guided by backstops or cushions B, ball guide strips G, and are seated in notches 61, formed in bounce boards 63, located adjacent openings 12, extending beneath conveyor C1, in a manner similar to that shown in my above referred to Patent 3,086,776, into engagement with bumper 46. The continuous movement of conveyors C1 and C2 is operative to rotate the ball against door 10, whereby it frictionally engages bumper 46, thereby causing bumper 46 to be moved in the direction of arrow A (FIGURE 1). This movement of bumper 46 causes hub 56 to rotate counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1. If the ball is able to effect the movement of bumper 46 to its normal unlatching position adjacent the right end of slot 48 (FIGURE 1), latch 66 is positioned clear of step 69, or any other step 71 or 73 on fixed pawl 68, depending upon how far bumper 46 is moved to the right in slot 48, or steps or teeth 94 on pusher pawl 90, described hereinafter. In this manner, door 10 is unlatched, and can be swung under the weight of the ball pressing against it inwardly in the direction of arrow X (FIGURE 2). Thus, the ball can roll into the range of operation of the ball lifting mechanism R in space S and be elevated thereby for return to the player at the approach end of the alley.

Under normal conditions, the mechanism operates as described above in delivering balls out of the pit of an alley to the ball elevating apparatus. Occasionally, however, the proper passage of a ball through an opening 12 is prevented. For example, it may happen that a pin may exit from a pit, say, P1, ahead of a ball or follow a ball through opening 12. Since occurrences of this type could cause pin and ball jams which would interrupt the play of the game, mechanism is provided in accordance with my invention which effects the positive return of a pin or pins, and a ball, as when the ball is pushed with a pin back into the pit for delivery of the pin or pins by conveyor C1 to a suitable pin elevating device of which belt 88 forms a part.

This mechanism comprises a vertically positioned arm designated generally 72, provided with vertically spaced bearings 74 by means of which arm 72 is rotatably mounted on shaft 18 (see FIGURE 3). Pivotally attached to the lower or free end of arm 72 is one end of an adjustable link 76, the other end of which link is pivotally attached to a pin 78, through a Uni-ball connection to crank disc 82 attached to and rotating with shaft 84 which supports and rotates pulley 86 driven by belt 88 from a suitable source of power. Since shaft 84 preferably is driven continuously, crank disc 82 causes pawl to be oscillated repeatedly relative to latch 66.

Arm 72 is formed with two spaced, outwardly extending lugs or bosses 87 which support a pivot pin 89 on which is pivotally mounted an oscillating pawl or pusher member 90 provided with a downwardly extending flange 92 having two spaced teeth 94 forming an integral part thereof. As shown in FIGURE 1, pawl or member 90 is provided with a downwardly extending leg 96 which bears against stop portion 98 formed on arm 72, which limits the downward movement of pawl 90.

The mounting of pawl 96 is such that it can be oscillated in a generally horizontal plane, and also have an upward movement about its pivot pin 89. The upward movement of pawl 90 can occur as the sloped back portion of teeth 94 travel across the top edge of latch 66 during a closing movement of door 10. This can occur at any time that latch 66 occupies an intermediate position and one of the teeth 94 has been located in front of it so that the engagement therewith would cause the pawl 98 to move or push door 1%) towards closed position. In the retrograde movement of pawl 90, sloped portions 95 of teeth 94 slide across the top of latch 66. It will be noted that the radial distance of teeth 94 of pawl 90 from the axis of its support shaft is about the same as the distance from its axis to latch 66 when in its vertical position, or that shown in FIGURE 1.

As noted above, during the proper operation of the mechanism, a ball, when engaging bumper 46, will cause latch 66 to be moved out of latching relationship with respect to tooth 69 of pawl 68, and in the same manner, latch 66 will be moved clear of the path of travel of teeth 94 on oscillating pawl 90. Thus, as long as a bowling ball is properly acting with respect to bumper 46, a door will open normally, and its opening will not be obstructed or hindered by engagement of latch 66 with either stop tooth 659 or the front wall $9 of tooth 94 on pawl 90.

The condition may arise in which a bowling ball has succeeded in rotating bumper do so that latch as is moved out of the range of oscillating arm or pawl and out of the range of engagement with stop tooth 69 of fixed pawl 6%. Howe er, somewhere during this partial opening of a door it a bowling pin manages to interfere with the balls engagement with bumper 45. In such case, the ball will move back from bumper 46, whereupon it assumes a vertical position. In a situation like this, osciliating pusher pawl 90 can now strike latch 66 and, as a result, positively move door m back towards its closed position. The result of this movement causes the door it to drive the pin that was causing the interference back into pit P1 and onto conveyor C1 which moves the pin rearwardly and delivers it into the bowling pin elevating mechanism (not shown). When the bowling ball next engages bumper 46, the resumption of normal operation in opening door M3 is possible.

It may also happen that a bowling pin initially blocks the engagement of a ball with bumper 46, due to the action of the conveyor Cl pushing the pin against door it). When this occurs, the ball cannot engage bumper 46 and move it in slot 48, as described above, and consequently door it) cannot open. The pushing action of a bowling pin in the situation described is suti'icient to overcome the force of spring 44 and to take up the slight clearance between latch as and the range of oscillatory movement of the front portion 99 of pusher pawl hi). it will be seen, therefore, as explained herein above, that oscillating pusher pawl 9% strikes the latch 66, and the impact thereof causes a nudging, or pushing, of the pin by door it back into the pit. When the pin has been removed from opening 12 in the manner described, the ball is now free to take its course of movement towards bumper so that itcan try to open door 10 again, and pass through opening 12. into the range of operation of ball lifting device R.

If a pin should follow a ball through opening 12,, normally, in the absence of such a pin, the spring 44 would tend to close the door. When door it]? has been closed suiiiciently to bring latch as, which now is positioned vertically, in front of one of the teeth 94 of oscillating pawl 94 the front tooth of the front portion @9 of the front tooth 94 will engage the rear face of latch 66, and move it forwardly so as to effect the closing of the door. This movement of the door with respect to the pin which has entered the space S between the kickbacks M, will eifect the removal of the pin therefrom and its delivery back onto conveyor C1 in pit P1 or the corresponding conveyor C2 in pit P2. It should be noted that the fairly light spring 44 might not be able fully to close the door against the action of a pin, and hence the positive action of the oscillating pawl as which operates in the manner described assures that this closing will occur.

If, during play, a bowling ball is delivered to door 14 at such a speed that it cannot be properly seated in notch 61, the ball will strike bumper 46 which pivots about shaft 52, thus yielding with the ball, and thereby preventing it from bounding out of engagement therewith. Having thus dissipated the excess energy of the ball, spring 55 which encircles an extension 53 of shaft 52 and has one end 57 thereof bearing against an extension 51' of arm Stl, is operative to return bumper as to its operative position in door 1%. The other end of spring 55 is positioned beneath shoulder 59 formed in hub 56. In this manner, spring 55 is operative to return bumper 46 to its operative position in door It), and also assists in maintaining bumper 46 in frictional engagement with a ball delivered there against.

It will be apparent that mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention insures that when and if an abnormal movement of pins and a ball relative to a door 10 or an opening 12 occurs, and a step or tooth 94 of pawl can engage latch 66, the obstructing pin will be displaced by the door under the positive influence of pawl 90 and the way cleared thereby for the proper movement of a ball through an opening 12 for return to the player.

What I claim is:

1. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with two adjacent bowling alleys, each of said alleys having a kickback at one end of said alley provided with a ball opening and a ball return device located between said kickbacks and adapted to receive balls passing through said openings, said apparatus comprising a door for each of said kickbacks, means mounting each of said doors for movement into and out of closed position in said openings and into and out of open position between said kickbacks, means normally urging said doors into closed position in said openings, lock means for each of said doors normally securing each of said doors in operative position closing said openings, ball-actuated unlocking means operatively associated with each of said doorsfor effecting the opening of said doors. for movement of a ball from one of the pits therepast and through its associated opening corresponding to one of said doors, means connected to each of said doors and actuated by the opening of one ofsaid doors for maintaining the other of said doors in closed position until said opened door is returned to closed position, whereby simultaneous eXiting of balls from each of said pits is prevented, and mechanism operative when a bowling pin prevents the normal opening and/ or closing of a door for positively moving said partially opened door back to its normal closed position to eject a bowling pin from said opening, and ready said unlocking means for actuation by said ball.

2. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with two adjacent bowling alleys, each of said alleys having a kickback at one end of said alley provided with a ball opening and a ball return device located between said kickbacks and adapted to receive balls passing through said openings, said apparatus comprising a door for each of said kickbacks, means mounting each of said doors for movement into and out of open position between said kickbacks, means normally urging said doors into closed position in said openings, lock means for each of said doors normally securing each of said doors in operative position closing said openings, ball-actuated unlocking means operatively associated with each of said doors for effecting the opening of said doors for movement of a ball from one of the pits therepast and through its associated opening corresponding to one of said doors, means for limiting the inward movement of said one of said doors when a ball fails to properly actuate said unlocking means, and other positively actuated means for returning said door to closed position relative to its opening and readying said unlocking means for operation by said ball.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 including means for preventing the movement of said other door until said first-named door has been opened to permit the exiting of a ball actuating its unlocking means out of the pit through its associated opening.

4. A bowling pin and ball handling apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof and a kickback provided with an opening through which a ball may roll out of said pit, a door, means mounting said door for movement between a position closing said opening and a position wherein a ball may roll through said opening, mechanism including unlocking means normally maintaining said door in position closing said opening, means preventing said door from opening fully when an obstruction prevents a ball from proper actuation of said unlocking means, mechanism for positively returning said door to its opening-closing position and removing said obstruction to the proper actuation of said unlocking means by said ball, and means for operating said mechanism to efiiect the positive closing movement of said door.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said unlocking means includes a movable latch carried by said door, a stepped fixed pawl carried by said kickback with said step positioned to be engaged by said latch to block the inward movement of said door, and wherein said unlocking means includes a ball actuated bumper extending outwardly through a slot in said door, means rotatably mounting said bumper, means for delivering a ball into rotating engagement with said bumper to displace said bumper laterally in said slot and move said latch out of the path of engagement with said stepped pawl, and wherein said mechanism includes means operative when said ball fails to travel said bumper a predetermined distance in said slot to engage said latch and drive said door back into said position closing said opening.

'6. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, kickbacks at opposite sides of said pit, one of said kickbacks being provided with a ball opening through which balls roll out of said pit, said apparatus comprising a door, supports mounting said door for movement into and out of closed position in said opening, means normally urging said door into closed position in said opening, lock means for said door normally securing said door in closed position in said opening, said lock means including a multipleposition locking element, ball-actuated unlocking means operatively associated with said door for effecting the opening of said door for movement of a ball through said opening, and operative to relock said door in partially opened position at a second locking position in said locking element in the event a bowling pin attempts to exit with a ball through said opening, mechanism operative when the first-named means is rendered inefiective by a blocking bowling pin for moving said door back to closed position and thereby pushing said blocking bowling pin back through said opening and thereby readying said unlocking means for unobstructed actuation by said ball, and means for actuating said mechanism.

7. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, kickbacks at opposite sides of said pit, one of said kickbacks being provided with a ball opening through which balls roll out of said pit, said apparatus comprising a door, supports mounting said door for movement into and out of closed position in said opening, means normally urging said door to closed position in said opening, and other means for positively moving said door to closed position when a bowling pin obstructs the movement of a bowling ball through said opening, and mechanism for actuating said last-named means to cause said door to push said pin back into said pit.

8. A bowling pin and ball handling device for use with a bowling alley having a pit and kickbacks at either side of said pit, and one of said kickbacks having a ball opening through which a ball may roll from said pit to a ball conveying device located exteriorly of said pit, a door, supports mounting said door to move into and out of closing position relative to said opening, means normally maintaining said door closed, means preventing full opening of said door when a bowling pin is located in said opening, a positively actuated door closing device, means for operating said device when a pin prevents said firstnamed means from returning said door to closing position relative to said opening to push such pin out of said opening and back into said pit, and a conveyor in said pit for conveying said pin away from said opening.

9. A bowling ball and pin handling device for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, kickbacks at each side of said pit, and one of said kickbacks having a ball exit opening, a movable door normally closing said opening, locking means maintaining said door closed, means operative in response to its engagement by a ball for unlocking said locking means whereby pressure exerted thereagainst opens said door and said ball can roll through said opening, a device blocking the movement of said door if an obstruction prevents said ball from rolling freely through said opening, means for intermittently engaging said blocked door and moving it back towards its normal opening-closing position to remove said obstruction from the path of movement of said door, and means for driving said last-named means to efiect said movement of said door to said closing position.

It). The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said blocking device comprises a fixed multiple step pawl, including a normal locking step and at least one blocking step, and wherein said locking means includes a ball actuated latch mounted on said door which is moved by said ball to an intermediate position by a ball when an obstruction prevents said ball from completely unlocking said locking means, and wherein said latch is thereby positioned to engage a blocking step of said pawl, and wherein said driving means comprises a member engaging said latch when said latch engages said blocking step and means for oscillating said member to engage said latch and effect the return of said door to openingclosing position.

11. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with two adjacent bowling alleys, each of said alleys having a kickback at one end of said alley provided with a ball opening and a ball return device located between said kickbacks and adapted to receive balls passing through said openings, said apparatus comprising a door for each of said kickbacks, means mounting each of said doors for movement into and out of closed position in said openings and into and out of open position between said kickbacks, means normally urging said doors into closed position in said openings, lock means for each of said doors normally securing each of said doors in operative position closing said openings, ball-actuated unlocking means operatively associated with each of said doors for elfecting the opening of said doors for movement of a ball from one of the pits therepast and through its associated opening corresponding to one of said doors, means connected to each of said doors and actuated by the opening of one of said doors for maintaining the other of said doors in closed position until said opened door is returned to closed position, whereby simultaneous exiting of balls from each of said pits is prevented, mechanism for positively moving a partially opened door back to its normal closed position to eject a bowling pin from said opening, and ready said unlocking means for actuation by said ball, said mechanism including a door pushing member, means for oscillating said member, and means on said door operative to be engaged by said member when said door is in partially opened condition and movement of a ball through said ball opening is prevented to effect the return by said member of said door to closed position in said opening.

12. A bowling pin and ball handling apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof and a kickback provided with an opening through which a ball may roll out of said pit, a door, means mounting said door for movement between a position closing said opening and a position wherein a ball may roll through said opening, mechanism including unlocking means normally maintaining said door in position closing said opening, means preventing said door from opening fully when an obstruction prevents a ball from proper actuation of said unlocking means, other means for positively returning said door to its opening-closing position and removing said obstruction to the proper actuation of said unlocking means by said ball, said unlocking means including a movable latch carried by said door, a stepped fixed pawl carried by said kickback with said step positioned to be engaged by said latch to block the inward movement of said door, and wherein said unlocking means includes a ball actuated bumper extending outwardly 69 through a slot in said door, means rotatably mounting said bumper, means for delivering a ball into rotating engagement with said bumper to displace said bumper laterally in said slot and move said latch out of the path of engagement with said stepped pawl, means operative when said ball fails to travel said bumper a predetermined distance in said slot to engage said latch and drive said door back into said position closing said opening, said last-named means including a pivoted driving member, means on said member positioned to engage said latch, and means for continuously oscillating said member to effect a repeated outward displacement of said door into opening-closing position.

13. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, kickbacks at opposite sides of said pit, one of said kickbacks being provided with a ball opening through which balls roll out of said pit, said apparatus comprising a door, supports mounting said door for movement into and out of closed position in said opening, means normally urging said door into closed position in said opening, lock means for said door normally securing said door in closed position in said opening, said lock means including a multiple-position locking element, ball-actuated unlocking means operatively associated with said door for effecting the opening of said door for movement of a ball through said opening, and operative to relock said door in partially opened position at a second locking position in said locking element in the event a bowling pin attempts to exit with a ball through said opening, mechanism for moving said door back to closed position and thereby pushing said bowling pin back through said opening and thereby readying said unlocking means for unobstructed actuation by said ball, said mechanism including a movable pawl, a plurality of downwardly extending teeth carried by said pawl, and driving means for oscillating said pawl to coact with said unlocking means and thereby efiect the rearward pin displacing movement of said door.

1 The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said ball unlocking means includes a latch and a ball actuated member connected to said latch, said latch being mounted for movement between a latching position engaging one of iii said positions of said locking element, an intermediate position where said latch engages another of said positions of said locking element and one of said teeth of said movable pawl, and an unlatching position where said latch is located free from engagement with said locking element and by said teeth of said movable pawl whereby a ball may open said unlocked door and move out of said pit, said movable pawl being operative when said latch is in said intermediate position to engage said latch repeatedly and push said door back to closed position.

15. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, kickbacks at opposite sides of said pit, one of said kickbacks being provided with a ball opening through which balls roll out of said pit, said apparatus comprising a door, supports mounting said door for movement into and out of closed position in said opening, means normally urging said door to closed position in said opening, and other means for positively returning said door to closed position when a bowling pin obstructs the movement of a bowling ball through said opening, mechanism for actuating said means to cause said door to push said pin back into said pit, said other means including an oscillating pawl having a plurality of actuating teeth, and means on said door positioned to be engaged and driven by one of said teeth on said movable pawl when said door is in partially opened position.

16. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said pawl is mounted for vertical pivotal movement, and wherein said means on said door comprises a latch, and the rear portions of said teeth on said pawl are inclined such that said teeth on said pawl can slide over said latch during retrograde movement of said pawl.

References (Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

7. BOWLING BALL HANDLING AND RETURN APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A PIT AT ONE END, KICKBACKS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PIT, ONE OF SAID KICKBACKS BEING PROVIDED WITH A BALL OPENING THROUGH WHICH BALLS ROLL OUT OF SAID PIT, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A DOOR, SUPPORTS MOUNTING SAID DOOR FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF CLOSED POSITION IN SAID OPENING, MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID DOOR TO CLOSED POSITION IN SAID OPENING, AND OTHER MEANS FOR POSITIVELY MOVING SAID DOOR TO CLOSE POSITION WHEN A BOWLING PIN OBSTRUCTS THE MOVEMENT OF A BOWLING BALL THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS TO CAUSE SAID DOOR TO PUSH SAID PIN BACK INTO SAID PIT. 